Wireless Firearms Target System

ABSTRACT

The present invention generally relates to improvements in firearms target systems. In particular, the present invention relates to mechanisms for incorporating random and/or pre-determined targeting of targets in a shooting range. According to one embodiment, a wireless LED receiver unit is mounted at the target of a shooting range or its equivalents, the unit being capable of randomly indicating a selected target for a shooter practising shooting on the shooting range. According to another embodiment, the LED receiver unit may randomly determine the number of shots to be fired at the target by the practising shooter, determine the duration of shooting and generally randomize the shooting experience to prepare the shooter for unplanned situations as it would be in real life.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of the provisionalapplication number 63/141,320 filed on 25 Jan. 2021.

The above-named provisional patent application is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to improvements in firearmstarget systems. In particular, the present invention relates tomechanisms for incorporating random and pre-determined targeting oftargets in a shooting range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A shooting range, firing range or gun range is a specialized facility,venue or field designed specifically for firearm usage qualifications,training, practice or competitions. Some shooting ranges are operated bymilitary or law enforcement agencies, though the majority of ranges areprivately owned by civilians and sporting clubs and cater mostly torecreational shooters. Shooting ranges are extremely critical infirearms training for both civilians and armed government personnelincluding police and military. Training sessions are important toacquire accuracy in shooting and to respond substantively to unknownstimuli, such as in a real-world combat situation.

During regular firearms training sessions, shooters know which targetthey are going to be shooting, how many rounds they're going to beshooting, and for how long they will be shooting. There is no way to begiven a random command that might include a no-shoot target. Thisknowledge immediately before firing a shooting drill prevents theshooter from having to mentally process, think, or react to an unknownstimulus. Students/Shooters will typically train using standardcardboard or steel targets but are required to determine or know howmany rounds they are going to fire at which target.

To overcome the predictability, some conventional target and shootingsystem implements may signal a shooter to shoot a target when activatedand react with some form of output when the target is hit. Someconventional systems may utilize the target itself as the activationsignal. For example, some conventional target solutions may rotate atarget from a “don't shoot” side to a “shoot” side and back again. Someconventional systems may utilize proprietary targets that limit a user'schoice of target. Also, some conventional system may use proprietarytargets that include target system components built into the targets.

However, prior patents fail to describe a wireless LED receiver unitmounted at the target of a shooting range or its equivalents, the unitbeing capable of randomly indicating a selected target for a shooterpractising shooting on the shooting range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is an explanation of some of the general inventivesteps for the system, method, architecture and tools in the description.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and does notintend to limit the scope beyond what is described and claimed as asummary.

The present invention generally relates to improvements in firearmstarget systems. In particular, the present invention relates tomechanisms for incorporating random and/or pre-determined targeting oftargets in a shooting range. According to one embodiment, a wireless LEDreceiver unit is mounted at the target of a shooting range or itsequivalents, the unit being capable of randomly indicating a selectedtarget for a shooter practising shooting on the shooting range.According to another embodiment, the LED receiver unit may randomlydetermine the number of shots to be fired at the target by thepractising shooter, determine the duration of shooting and generallyrandomize the shooting experience to prepare the shooter for unplannedsituations as it would be in real life.

The current invention solves the problem that during regular firearmstraining sessions, shooters know which target they are going to beshooting, how many rounds they're going to be shooting, and for how longthey will be shooting. There is no way to be given a random command thatmight include a no-shoot target. This knowledge immediately beforefiring a shooting drill prevents the shooter from having to mentallyprocess, think, or react to an unknown stimulus.

According to one embodiment, the invention randomly predetermines whichtarget the shooter will have to engage, as well as how many rounds theshooter will have to engage the target with.

According to another embodiment, at the target is a wireless receiverunit, which has a series of LED lights that will illuminate when aprogram chooses the respective target.

According to another embodiment, the receiver unit has a vibrationsensor that will detect each round fired into the target. The programwill determine how many rounds must be detected.

According to another embodiment, the wireless firearms training targetsystem embodied by the current invention uses a wireless transmitter andreceiver, in conjunction with a computer program, to choose a target forthe shooter, how many rounds (if any) must be fired at the target. Inthis embodiment, the program and hardware accomplish this by detectingeach shot that is fired at the chosen target, with a vibration sensor.

According to another embodiment, the program determines which wirelessled receiver units to select, as well as how many rounds to be fired ateach target, which targets should require zero bullets to be fired atthem, and how many times to select a given target.

For a more complete understanding of the above listed features andadvantages of the wireless firearms targeting system, reference shouldbe made to the detailed description and the drawings. Further,additional features and advantages of the invention are described in,and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the illustrativeembodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The illustrativeembodiments, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, furtherobjectives and descriptions thereof, will best be understood byreference to the following detailed description of one or moreillustrative embodiments of the present disclosure when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a standard shooting range used forshooting practice.

FIG. 2 of the drawings is an illustration of some embodiments of thewireless target system unit used at a shooting range.

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a perspective view of the wireless targetsystem unit installed at the target.

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a front view of the wireless target systemunit installed at the target.

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a side view of the wireless target system unitinstalled at the target.

FIG. 6 of the drawings is an illustration of a shooting range with awireless target system unit installed at the target.

FIG. 7 of the drawings a process performed by the wireless target systemunit installed at the target.

FIG. 8 of the drawings is a process for the control of the wirelessfirearms target system according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Theterminologies or words used in the description and the claims of thepresent invention should not be interpreted as being limited merely totheir common and dictionary meanings. On the contrary, they should beinterpreted based on the meanings and concepts of the invention inkeeping with the scope of the invention based on the principle that theinventor(s) can appropriately define the terms in order to describe theinvention in the best way.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown anddescribed herein is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, so it does not express the technical spirit and scope of thisinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made to the invention without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

In a first embodiment according to the FIG. 1 of the drawings, it isillustrated a standard shooting range used for shooting practice. On thefigure, it is shown a gun 20, that has fired a bullet 21 at one of thetargets 22, 23 or 24 in the shooting range 200. In this typical setup,as in the prior art, during firearms training sessions, a shooter usingthe gun 20 would typically know which target from among 22, 23 or 24they are going to be shooting, how many rounds they're going to beshooting, and for how long they will be shooting. There is no way to begiven a random command that might include a no-shoot target in the shownembodiment.

In the embodiment according to the FIG. 2 of the drawings is anillustration of of the wireless target system unit used at a shootingrange. On the figure, it is shown the wireless LED receiver unit 2 (insome references, wireless target system unit), which according to thisembodiment houses the main components of the unit, as well as avibration sensor and LED light strips used for indicating the selectedtargets. A vibration sensor is illustrated as 3 in the figure. Thevibration sensor is capable of detecting how many bullets have struckthe target, and relay that information back to the program via awireless relay provided thereto.

Further, a transmitter 4 is illustrated in the figure. The transmitteris adapted to send the commands to each individual wireless LED receiverunits to activate or deactivate them. A wireless relay 5, shown in theillustration is adapted to send and receive commands to and from thetransmitter 4 also illustrated in the figure. Further, the unit iscoupled to a power source 6, which may include a battery, mainselectricity or solar panel among others, to supply an electric currentto the electronic components of the unit. Additionally, a case 7 isprovided as part of the wireless LED receiver unit 2 to house the maincomponents of the unit. The case may be made of but not limited toplastic, Kevlar, steel, metal, PVC, wood or any such. Further shown as 8and 9, are logical controllers, which may comprise of wireless LEDreceiver unit mother board to run program commands for execution by thewireless relays, and a transmitter unit motherboard will run andtransmit the commands. It is anticipated that one or moremicro-controllers, field programmable gate array (FPGA) boards andsingle-board computers may be used in place of 8 and 9.

A plurality of wireless LED receiver units may be programmed by aprogram executed individually by each of the units, or as a distributedprogram executed between the plurality of the units in a co-originatedscheme. The said program would be capable of randomly choosing therequired logic based on the instructor defined parameters within thesoftware. The wireless firearms training target system uses a wirelesstransmitter and receiver, in conjunction with the program software, tochoose a target for the shooter, how many rounds (if any) must be firedat the target. The transmitter is capable of transmitting instructionsor inputs to a receiver at a different unit, while the receiver iscapable of receiving instructions and inputs from a separate unit. Theprogram and hardware accomplish this by detecting each shot that isfired at the chosen target, with a vibration sensor. For example, ashooting sequence may be communicated between a plurality of unitsinstalled at a plurality of targets to co-ordinate between selectingdifferent targets.

In a non-limiting example, a success counter may be included, wherein,upon sensing the target being hit by use of the vibration sensor, thesensor may communicate to the controller to keep count of the successfulhits, and an indicator may be configured to display the count ofsuccessful hits

Referring to the FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, it is illustrated a perspective,front and side views of the wireless LED receiver unit. Specifically,the FIG. 3 of the drawings is a perspective view of the wireless targetsystem unit installed at the target, where it is shown a mountingmechanism 10, and LED indicator units 11 and 12. The indicator units 11and 12 may be operable to indicate when a target is active and thusshould be shot at, when a target is inactive and thus should not be shotat, or when to shoot additional shots at it. In a non limiting example,it may comprise two different light indicating different status, forexample, a red indicator could show target was active while a greenindicator could indicate an inactive target. Other types of indicatorsare also anticipated.

On the other hand, the FIG. 4 of the drawings is a front view of thewireless target system unit installed at the target. On the figure, itis shown a case 1 to house the components of the unit.

The FIG. 5 of the drawings is a side view of the wireless target systemunit installed at the target. On the figure it is shown the case 1,mounting mechanism 10 and case 7. While the mounting mechanism 10 isshown to be of a slot type, it is anticipated that a screw mechanism,magnetic, pins, clips, rivets or any such could also be useful.

In the embodiment according to the FIG. 6 of the drawings is anillustration of a shooting range with a wireless target system unitinstalled at the target. On the figure, it is shown a gun 20, that hasfired a bullet 21 at one of the targets 22, 23 or 24 in the shootingrange 200. On each of the targets shown, a wireless LED receiver unit isinstalled such as 100, 101 and 102 mounted on the targets 22, 23 or 24respectively. Each of the units has a mounting means to mount thetarget. It may comprise an indicator, preferably of LED type to indicatethe targeting status, such as active for shooting or not active forshooting. The LED indicator may be configured to indicate when thetarget has been hit by the bullet projectile as detected by thevibration sensor, and this indication may include counting the roundsthat have hit the target. Further, the LED indicator may be configuredto indicate when a target is active and thus should be shot at, or whenit is inactive and thus should not be shot at. For example, the targetsmay be indicated as enemy targets, friendly targets and civilians tosimulate a real-world scenario by using different LED lighting.

Additionally, the wireless LED receiver units 100, 101 and 102 may begrouped as a unit to randomly or in a predetermined pattern change thetargets 22, 23 or 24 between shoot (active) to no shoot, forcing theshooter to to mentally process and decide to shoot, as well as confirmwhether or not they must shoot again, based on the wireless LED receiverunit.

In the next shown embodiment according to the FIG. 7 of the drawings aprocess performed by the wireless target system unit installed at thetarget. Starting with the step 70, it is shown the receiving a sequenceof activating and deactivating targets at a shooting range by means of aprogram configured at the wireless LED receiver unit. Thereafter, in thestep 71, it is shown the activation of sequencing of targets at theshooting range between at least one of active to shoot, and/or inactiveto shoot. Typically, the activation is by means of an LED indicator orits equivalent at the unit installed at the target. The subsequent step72 is the determining a successful shot of the target by the wirelessLED receiver unit's vibration sensor. In this step, there may be acounter mechanism coupled to the vibration sensor to count the number ofshots hitting the target, and which may further display on the LEDindicator. In the last shown step 73 is communicating to one or more ofthe wireless LED receiver units the sequence of activating anddeactivating targets at a shooting range.

In the last shown embodiment according to the FIG. 8 of the drawings isa process for the control of the wireless firearms target systemaccording to one embodiment. Stsrting at the step 80 is the receiving asequence of activating and deactivating targets at a shooting range bymeans of a program configured at the wireless LED receiver unit.Thereafter, in the step 81 is the causing the activation of thesequencing of targets at the shooting range between at least one ofactive to shoot and inactive to shoot. Step 82 is the output of a signalat a target for an active mode based on received sequence. Finally, thestep 83 is the output of a signal at a target for an inactive mode basedon received sequence.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims. Such alterations are herewithanticipated.

Accordingly, the applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives,modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit andscope of the disclosed subject matter.

It should also be understood that references to items in the singularshould be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa,unless explicitly stated otherwise or clearly from the context.Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctiveand conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, andthe like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, theterm “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention is applicable in the firearms shooting range industries,and specifically in the manufacture and provision of mechanisms forincorporating random and/or pre-determined targeting of targets inshooting ranges.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless firearms target system comprising of:a target provided for hitting by a projectile; a receiver unit mountedto said target, the receiver unit being comprised of: a power source toprovide an electric current to the electrical components; a transmittermeans adapted to transmit activation and deactivation signals to the LEDsignaling means; a controller means adapted to execute a logical programto control at least in part the activation and/or deactivation of thesignaling means, and/or receive measurements from the vibration sensor;an LED signaling means; a relay means adapted to receive and/or transmitinstructions to the transmitter means; a mounting means; and a vibrationsensor adapted to determine hitting of said target by projectiles
 2. Thewireless firearms target system of claim 1, wherein the projectileemanates from a firearm.
 3. The wireless firearms target system of claim1, wherein the mounting means comprises a slot mechanism.
 4. Thewireless firearms target system of claim 1, wherein the mounting meanscomprises a screw mechanism.
 5. The wireless firearms target system ofclaim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises a magnetic mechanism. 6.The wireless firearms target system of claim 1, wherein the mountingmeans comprises a rivet mechanism.
 7. The wireless firearms targetsystem of claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises a clipmechanism.
 8. The wireless firearms target system of claim 1, whereinsaid receiver unit may be operably coupled to a plurality of receiverunits, wherein the activation and/or deactivation of the signaling meansis coordinated between the plurality of receiver units.
 9. A wirelessfirearms receiver unit adapted for mounting a firearms target, thereceiver unit being comprised of: a power source to provide an electriccurrent to the electrical components; a transmitter means adapted totransmit activation and deactivation signals to the LED signaling means;a controller means adapted to execute a logical program to control atleast in part the activation and/or deactivation of the signaling means,receive measurements from the vibration sensor; an LED signaling means;a relay means adapted to receive and/or transmit instructions to thetransmitter means; a mounting means; and a vibration sensor adapted todetermine hitting of said firearms target by projectiles.
 10. Thereceiver unit of claim 9, wherein the projectile emanates from afirearm.
 11. The receiver unit of claim 9, wherein the mounting meanscomprises a slot mechanism.
 12. The receiver unit of claim 9, whereinthe mounting means comprises a screw mechanism.
 13. The receiver unit ofclaim 9, wherein the mounting means comprises a magnetic mechanism. 14.The receiver unit of claim 9, wherein the mounting means comprises arivet mechanism.
 15. The receiver unit of claim 9, wherein the mountingmeans comprises a clip mechanism.
 16. The receiver unit of claim 9,wherein said receiver unit may be operably coupled to a plurality ofreceiver units, wherein the activation and/or deactivation of thesignaling means is coordinated between the plurality of receiver units.17. A method comprising of: receiving an input for a sequence ofactivation and/or deactivation of the signaling means by a program of areceiver unit; activating the sequence at the receiver unit; determininga successful hit of the target by a projectile; and communicating to anLED signaling means to activate a signaling based on the determinationof successful hit of the target by a projectile.
 18. The method of claim17, further comprising: receiving an input for an activation and/ordeactivation of the signaling means; causing the activation of thesequence at the receiver unit; outputting the indicator for an activestate based on the activated sequence; and outputting the indicator foran inactive state based on the activated sequence;